Red-haired Rhiannon Lowton tore into the policy, arguing it undermined Labour’s appeal to young people.

The policy would cut the annual cap on fees from £9,000 to £6,000, funded by higher corporation tax for the banks and by forcing graduates earning more than £65,000 to pay higher interest rates on their loans.

But Ms Lowton, mature students officer at Liverpool Hope University, said: "We are not sending out the right message by advocating fees of £6,000. We should not be arguing for a reduction and for keeping fees, we should be arguing for free education for everybody.”